Employees at a handful of restaurants, bars, and hotels in Bermuda are now trained to help prevent their drunk patrons from getting behind the wheel.

The Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA) facilitated several five hour certification courses called Training for Interventions Procedures (TIPS).

At a press conference yesterday Minister for Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler presented the successfully trained service workers with certificates.

Minister Butler said: "The TIPS programme is the recognised global leader in education and training for the responsible service, sale and consumption of alcohol.

"It is a skills-based training programme that is designed to prevent intoxication, underage drinking and drunk driving."

When a bartender or server or pub owner spots one of the signs of intoxication, they're taught to utilise their newly learned mediation skills to convince the customer not to drive.

Jay Correia who owns the Swizzle Inn franchise has put himself and twelve employees through the programme.

He's been in the business 30 years, but the certification course taught him a few things he hadn't picked up on his own.

Mr. Correia said: "It's helpful in that it coaches you in techniques in how to deal with the customers, certain tools and certain ways to approach them, so you can diffuse the situation without it turning badly which sometimes it can when you speak to someone who may have had too much to drink."

Participants in the class also learned how many servings of alcohol it typically takes to make a person legally drunk.

Employees from the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, North Rock Brewing Company, and Bermuda Bistro were also awarded yesterday with CADA certificates.

CADA Chairman Anthony Santucci and his staffers are constantly out recruiting businesses to take part in a TIPS course.

It can be frustrating at times because in Bermuda the course isn't required like it is in many other parts of the world.

Mr. Santucci said: "In Canada, in England, in 48 out of 50 States, you have to do a TIPS programme. It's not a question. They have to do it."

A member of the CADA staff teaches the course and can typically create a schedule that fits the needs of the business.

The five hours of required training can be a slight obstacle, but the determined business owners find a way to make it work.

Mr. Correia said: "The benefits far outweigh any inconvenience from any scheduling point of view and the staff feel empowered afterward that they have these tools."